Did you know that the fast fashion industry is one of the biggest contributors to polluting the environment? We buy more shoes and clothes than we need and eventually throw them out when they no longer fit or are out of style. It’s easy to make the decision to toss last year’s fashion when we only paid $10 to $20 for each piece.
The problem is the manufacturing process for producing fast fashion pieces is bad for the environment. The cost at the register may be low, but the environmental cost is high. Here’s what we can do to make better choices when shopping for clothing.
Shop from Brands Committed to Sustainable Practices
If statistics are anything to go by, the fashion industry makes up a notable percentage of wastewater and carbon emissions.
Clothing waste accounts for half a million tons of non-biodegradable material that enters the ocean ecosystems annually; that’s the equivalent of more than 50 billion plastic water bottles.
It has been observed that consumers are willing to pay more for fashion items with a lower carbon footprint. This has been evidenced by the surge in sales of several sustainable sneaker models with the most notable being Adidas’ and Nike’s recycled plastic shoes.
Committing to sustainable shopping means that for any fashion item you buy, its design, creation, and manufacturing methods minimize harm to the environment by preserving natural resources, conserving energy, and being mindful of the community. Before you make your next purchase check to see if the brand has a policy for sustainability.
Check Out Second Hand Sites
Consumerism drives the fashion industry and the more clothes and shoes you buy, the more get made which translates to even more clothing waste.
An easy workaround to this problem is to buy fewer clothes and shoes than you previously did.
For instance, you might want to reconsider splurging on new Halloween costumes this year and instead swap with a neighbor.
Have items you no longer love? You could try selling your unwanted items on sites like ThredUp, Poshmark, and The Real Real. They make it easy to buy and sell pre-loved items from any brand – from unknown labels to luxury names like Louis Vuitton and Chanel.
If you have some items that are not in the right condition to resell you can always recycle them. Many cities have drop-off locations for fashion recycling. Here at GotSneakers we can help you recycle your unwanted footwear. In fact, we have saved over 200 million pairs of sneakers from ending up in landfills. All you have to do is request your FREE Closet Clean Out Kit today. We’ll send you bags and pre-paid shipping labels to send us your unwanted footwear in. The whole process is quick, easy, and doesn’t cost you anything!
Buy Better, Higher-Quality
Another way to shop sustainably is to ensure you only get high-quality shoes, clothes, or accessories. The reason being, higher quality means the items will last longer so you won’t need to replace worn-out shoes or clothes as often.
Following these tips will mean the volume of clothing waste you generate over time will fall and your contribution to environmental conservation will help the planet.